OPTIMIST’S GUIDE (^) | DECODER
AT THE STORE
Green your coffee habit. Get
a reusable filter pod for your
single-use coffee machine—
and fill it with certified “bird
friendly” coffee grown in a
habitat that also nurtures birds.
Be choosy when buying home
tissue. Know which products
are made of virgin wood pulp,
which contribute to destruction
of forests. Instead of buying
paper towels and paper nap-
kins, use cloth towels, napkins,
and rags when possible.
Consider dropping meat from
a few meals, or completely.
IN THE HOME
Become an eco-friendly pet
owner: Be careful how you use
flea and tick products contain-
ing pesticides. Avoid cat litter
made of materials obtained by
strip-mining.
Minimize food waste: Use a
digital meal planner to calculate
ingredients and portions so virtu-
ally everything you buy and cook
gets eaten. Learn how to store
foods to prolong their usability.
Keep food scraps and waste
out of landfills by composting.
Be sure to properly insulate
your home and replace old,
drafty windows with energy-
efficient ones.
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR
32 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC